Sai Prakash Leo Muthu is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sairam Institutions, one of India’s leading higher education ecosystems known for its strong alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its focus on innovation, leadership, and societal impact.
What motivated your contribution to the UN DPO–DPIR Peace & Security Fellowship?
Our engagement is deeply rooted in the philosophy of Sairam Institutions where education is about shaping responsible global citizens committed to peace and sustainable development. This contribution is made in honour of my father, whose life embodied service and leadership. It is with pride that we extend this legacy through the Leomuthu Fellow. This initiative also resonates with our engagement in movements such as the Scouts' Messengers of Peace initiative; the alignment of these values with Oxford and the United Nations makes this collaboration especially meaningful.
Why do you see the support of programmes such as this as particularly important?
Peacebuilding requires leaders equipped with both intellectual depth and practical understanding. This Fellowship plays a critical role by bringing together academic excellence and real-world experience. At Sairam Institutions, our initiatives are closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we believe in empowering professionals to contribute meaningfully to global peace.
What impact do you hope the Fellowship will have in the long term?
We see this as the beginning of a sustained ecosystem of collaboration between academia, global institutions, and youth-driven initiatives. Through our support of the Leomuthu Fellow, we hope to contribute to a model that can be scaled globally to nurture leaders committed to cooperation and sustainable development.
Which aspect of your visit to Oxford are you most looking forward to?
I look forward to engaging with the Fellows, understanding their research, and witnessing the outcomes of this collaboration. It will be particularly special to see the Leomuthu Fellow as part of this cohort. Beyond this, I look forward to strengthening institutional relationships and exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration.